Woohoo! My first road bike!

With the Tour de Cure coming up in May, I knew I had to just bite the bullet and get a road bike. I've been looking for one for a while now and decided to try a new LBS and see what they had. It turns out I went to the right place. I told them what I was looking for and they were extremely helpful. I test rode a Felt Z85, Specialized Allex, Sectuer and Tarmac. The Specialized bikes felt a little more comfortable to me than the Felt and while the Tarmac was pure awesome, it was outside my price range. I decided on a 2010 Specialized Allez Elite. I got a $150 discount and a free basic bike fitting. Overall it was an amazing buying experience.

Very nice looking bike, loks fast just sitting there. I'm sure you will get years of enjoyment. I will guarantee one thing. That Tarmac will stick in your mind till you are taking a picture of it...hahaha. You do realize it's an addiction right?

Best thing about cycling is when I'm at work I'm thinking of cycling, when I'm cycling I'm thinking about cycling.

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Mar 2006

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I ride an Allez, myself.

on light duty due to illness; please contact my assistants for forum issues. They are Siu Blue Wind, or CbadRider or the other 3 star folk. I am currently at home recovering from a couple of strokes. I am making good progress, happily.

. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche

"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant

I don't know what flipping the stem means but I'm leaving this puppy the way it is for a while until I break it in. Thanks for the comments guys! It's going to be sunny and around 50 degrees today so me and a buddy are going on a 2 hour ride. I can't wait to get this beauty on the road.

I don't know what flipping the stem means but I'm leaving this puppy the way it is for a while until I break it in. Thanks for the comments guys! It's going to be sunny and around 50 degrees today so me and a buddy are going on a 2 hour ride. I can't wait to get this beauty on the road.

Flipping the stem is simply removing in and turning it over to give a more aggressive (lower handlebar) riding position. Most stems are made to provide either 5-8 degrees of rise or drop depending on which way you put it on. "Flip it" is a common retort in the road forum. For we Clydes flipping it often involves some clearance (gut to knee) and flexability issues be addressed first.

Bike looks good!! Now ride it.... then flip it!

"Today me will live in the moment, unless it's unpleasant, then me will eat cookie." -Cookie Monster

Don't flip the stem. It will make the bike look fast but you will be uncomfy on long rides. If you aren't racing or don't care about impressing the crowds, skip it.

I don't flip mine, I care more about being comfy on a long ride. Besides, ride time and fitness will make a much more difference in speed than flipping the stem.

Matter of fact, I switched the drop stem to a rise on my climbing bike. Better for those 12,000 ft climbing rides. Allows the rider to sit more upright for better breathing. Watch a Tour De France video, the best climbers aer upright while climbing. That's because it allows for better breathing. As a Clyde, do you want to hunch over more than needed while restrciting air flow? Nope!

If you want aerodynamics, shave your legs!

Rise stem for better breathing while avoiding the backache, what will get me through the 114 miles and 12,000 ft, looking fast or efficient breathing?

Don't flip the stem. It will make the bike look fast but you will be uncomfy on long rides. If you aren't racing or don't care about impressing the crowds, skip it.

I don't flip mine, I care more about being comfy on a long ride. Besides, ride time and fitness will make a much more difference in speed than flipping the stem.

Matter of fact, I switched the drop stem to a rise on my climbing bike. Better for those 12,000 ft climbing rides. Allows the rider to sit more upright for better breathing. Watch a Tour De France video, the best climbers aer upright while climbing. That's because it allows for better breathing. As a Clyde, do you want to hunch over more than needed while restrciting air flow? Nope!

If you want aerodynamics, shave your legs!

Rise stem for better breathing while avoiding the backache, what will get me through the 114 miles and 12,000 ft, looking fast or efficient breathing?

Not gonna argue that one should flip a stem just because it's fashionable, but I think it's a bit of a generalization to say more upright is always better. Really depends on the specific geometry of the bike (how tall is the headtube / how much drop) as well as the geometry and flexability of the rider.

Got a fit done a bit ago and they swapped my stem for 1 cm more reach and went from +6 degree (rise) to a 0 degree one (I can flip it and nothing happens except the label is upside down). Used to get a sore lower back and numbness in my hands, now I've never been more comfy on my bike. Fittings are a good thing.

"Today me will live in the moment, unless it's unpleasant, then me will eat cookie." -Cookie Monster

Not gonna argue that one should flip a stem just because it's fashionable, but I think it's a bit of a generalization to say more upright is always better. Really depends on the specific geometry of the bike (how tall is the headtube / how much drop) as well as the geometry and flexability of the rider.
.

I'm not sure where I made that statement. I ddi throw in "being a clyde" cause I know the OP isn't an itty bitty waisted Clyde, neither am I. I was going off his previous claims of weight and such.

Sure, varies but I was suggesting in this case that the above comments of flip the stem doesn't seem neccesary in this case (this OP), not yet anyways. He may want to after more riding and more flexibilty. I never said always.

Also I didn't post my comments against your comments above. It was in response to the other poster that said "Awesome....now flip the stem" without any reason or consideration towards the OP. Not that there is anything wrong with flipping it to look fast.

HOLY CRAP!!!! I love this bike! I did a 25 mile ride with my buddy today. 2 things.

1) It's freaking fast! Hills seemed liked minor inconveniences rather than insurmountable. I was doing 20+ mph without even realizing it on level road and it didn't even seem like I was pedaling that hard. I'm in love!

HOLY CRAP!!!! I love this bike! I did a 25 mile ride with my buddy today. 2 things.

1) It's freaking fast! Hills seemed liked minor inconveniences rather than insurmountable. I was doing 20+ mph without even realizing it on level road and it didn't even seem like I was pedaling that hard. I'm in love!

I'm not sure where I made that statement. I ddi throw in "being a clyde" cause I know the OP isn't an itty bitty waisted Clyde, neither am I. I was going off his previous claims of weight and such.

Sure, varies but I was suggesting in this case that the above comments of flip the stem doesn't seem neccesary in this case (this OP), not yet anyways. He may want to after more riding and more flexibilty. I never said always.

Also I didn't post my comments against your comments above. It was in response to the other poster that said "Awesome....now flip the stem" without any reason or consideration towards the OP. Not that there is anything wrong with flipping it to look fast.

it seems we are in violent agreement.

"Today me will live in the moment, unless it's unpleasant, then me will eat cookie." -Cookie Monster